Members of Parliament return to the House of Commons Monday for what's expected to be the final full session of Parliament for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

The speech from the throne, to be delivered by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, has been toiled over for weeks by Chrétien's senior staff and political advisers.

The document is widely seen as more than the usual blueprint of a government's legislative plan. With Chrétien planning to retire in a little more than a year, it's also being viewed by many as the lasting vision he wants to leave behind after four decades in public office.




"This is, in fact, Jean Chrétien's legacy," said historian David Mitchell of the University of Ottawa. "Symbolically, we're going to see what is important to the prime minister after almost a decade (at 24 Sussex Drive)."

Although exact wording has not been made public, the speech is expected to include promises to:

  • Ratify the Kyoto Protocol this year;

  • Introduce a new ethics package that makes MPs more accountable;

  • Upgrade municipal infrastructure, such as public transit and water treatment;

  • Increase spending on social programs, including extra money for early childhood development and aboriginal families;

  • Do more to protect the environment and create more national parks;

  • Reiterate the need to boost foreign aid by eight per cent a year.

Some people predict that the government will also reaffirm that Canada backs the U.S.-led war against terrorism, even though Ottawa has not said what it will do if the U.S. launches a unilateral military attack against Iraq.

'Legacy' of cuts and broken promises: opposition

"Obviously I know what's in the throne speech, and I think Canadians will like what they will hear," said Government House leader Don Boudria on Sunday.

But opposition parties think the Liberals are out of touch with what voters really want. And they scoff at the suggestion that an out-going prime minister will be judged for a document of promises rather than for his actual performance since 1993.

"It is kind of distressing when you've had a government in power for nine years and they're saying they don't have a legacy," said Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper. "That, I think, says a lot about this government."

"Let's be clear, the Chrétien legacy is already very clearly defined by the Chrétien-Martin budgets that have slashed and burned very important social programs," said NDP Leader Alexa McDonough.

"I look upon the throne speech as being the indication of the next set of promises the Chrétien-Martin government will break," said Conservative Leader Joe Clark.